Thermal energy storage firm Sunamp has been awarded over £396,000 from SP Energy Networks’ Green Economy Fund to deliver innovative micro-district heating networks, which will reduce heating bills for fuel-poor and vulnerable people while also decreasing carbon emissions in Edinburgh.

The funding from SP Energy Networks’ Green Economy Fund has enabled Sunamp to provide five, micro-district heating networks that will produce low carbon heating for more than 50 Edinburgh residents.

The pioneering micro-district heating system aims to save over 75% on carbon emissions compared to gas boilers as well as providing the opportunity to recover heat from buildings with large occupancy and high passive heat gains in order to transfer it to the Edinburgh properties requiring heat.

Sunamp is being funded as part of SP Energy Networks’ £20 million Green Economy Fund, which supports the UK and Scottish Government’s ambitious plans to meet climate change targets. The fund also aims to boost local economic growth, improve air quality across the country and deliver a better future, quicker for all.

SP Energy Networks is part of the ScottishPower group, a Principal Partner for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to be held in Glasgow in November. It is developing an energy model that will play a significant role towards reaching the UK’s world-leading climate change targets and is investing a total of £10 billion in the clean energy generation and networks infrastructure needed to help the UK decarbonise and reach Net Zero emissions.

Frank Mitchell, CEO at SP Energy Networks, said: “Our Green Economy Fund is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind on the road to net zero emissions and this project provides critical support to local communities that are affected by fuel poverty.

“We know that Sunamp micro-district heating systems will make a significant difference to vulnerable residents in Edinburgh by making homes more energy efficient and bringing costs down so residents can keep their homes warm ahead of the winter months.

“We’re very proud to be funding this innovative project and supporting energy projects focused on tackling the decarbonisation of heat.”

Andrew Bissell, Sunamp Chief Executive: “SP Energy Networks and Sunamp share a vision of a world powered by affordable and sustainable energy. We couldn’t be more grateful for the support we’ve received from the Green Economy Fund as the new micro-district heating networks will provide heat to some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland’s capital.

“Sunamp is passionate about making buildings more energy efficient, sustainable and self-sufficient, whilst also reducing carbon emissions and SP Energy Networks’ funding has supported us in transforming how we heat and cool our buildings going forward”.

So far, 35 projects have been awarded funding from SP Energy Networks across Central and Southern Scotland. To find out more about the Green Economy Fund and the projects it supports, please visit: www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/green_economy_fund.aspx